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AN OCCUPATIONAL therapist has taught some of Grahamstown’s street children to ride horses. And four of them have already won show-jumping awards.

Misty Nish , 25, spends her mornings as an occupational therapist working for the Department of Health and her afternoons working at the Assegai Sports Horse Stud in Alicedale.

A talented equestrienne, she decided to combine both to bring some pleasure into the lives of children from impoverished backgrounds.

And last November she began teaching about 30 street children aged eight to 18 to ride.

The children are all from Grahamstown’s Eluxolweni Shelter, many carrying a history of neglect and abuse.

The shelter is renowned for not only providing such children with a home, but also an education with various programmes to help them deal with an uncertain future.

Nish said she firmly believes that horse riding is therapeutic and educational.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to do something they would normally not be able to engage in and they do so in a supportive environment.”

They learn the responsibility that comes with horse riding and quickly realise that it takes hard work to succeed. Nish backs this up by conducting “lifestyle” group work with the older boys.

“What they learn in riding they can carry into other areas of their life and succeed there, too.”

It was also immensely rewarding for her, she said, and she has developed a great deal of affection for the children.

Assegai Sports Horse Stud owners Kerry Longhurst and Neil Currie had been “incredibly supportive” and provided the horses, the space and a caring environment necessary for the training, she said.

Four of the older boys – Sibusiso Tyuphu, 15, Lindisipho Hendele, 16, Luvuyo Valela, 15, and Samkelo Maqanda, 17 – recently competed in their first show at the Grahamstown Riding Club. All four won certificates for completing clear rounds in the show-jumping and also won several places in the showing arena.

Nish is determined that the older boys will be given the opportunity to regularly compete in shows.

“They are development riders and the Grahamstown Riding Club does not charge us entry fees. We have also had generous donations of jodhpurs and jackets but could do with more if there is anyone out there willing to provide some.”

The boys love the sport and said it was “wonderful” to compete. “I wish I could do it all over again,” said Sibusiso.

In an essay written after the show, Samkelo said he had “loved” it and the show had made him very proud of himself. “I didn’t know I could ride horses like that. I really liked it and I won a certificate.”

Misty said many of the children were “hard working and switched on” and had bright futures ahead of them despite their tough start in life.

Exoloweni Shelter director David Claassen said most of the kids had been “driven to the streets” by poverty and abuse.

“Programmes such as this takes their minds off where they came from and gives them the opportunity to feel they are also human beings and that people think about them.” The interaction with horses also seemed to be “incredibly therapeutic”. - By ADRIENNE CARLISLE